Patti Steel

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Here is the portion about me:

Patti Steel

“Tulsa truly has my heart.” — Patti Steel

Patti Steel is soulful, fearless, and deeply human. She recently told me, “I’m an artist that enjoys all music. Americana is a huge umbrella—roots music, blues, jazz, even classic—but when it comes out of me, it doesn’t stay in that same form. I channel all of it. There’s a soul, folk, rock, country, blues, and jazz thing that comes inside and back out, and I don’t have a word for it yet, so for now I just call it Americana Soul.”

Multi-instrumentalist Patti prioritizes emotional grit, warmth, and vulnerability, embracing the risk of imperfection in her performances. Known for playing a diverse array of instruments ranging from spoons and guitar to mandolin and clarinet, she emphasizes resilience and the courage to experiment. As she told me, “I’m not a master of all of them, but I’m not afraid to try. I’m not afraid to mess up. I’ll get on stage, take the risk, fall short if I have to, and keep going.” She’s like a master woodcarver who can talk to you about the weather while still turning out a perfect piece.

Music has been in Patti’s blood from the start. Her dad, Bryan Richardson, was born in Tulsa and shared a deep appreciation for artists like the Cate Brothers, whose music left a lasting impression. Patti still carries those influences forward today: she’s performed alongside Earl Cate in The Last Waltz in Fayetteville in recent years, her duo has opened for Earl and Them in Fort Smith, and she’s also sung with his daughter as part of the Divas on Fire project. Patti’s own path started on a hand-me-down clarinet. She actually wanted to be a drummer, but since the drumline was full, she just jumped in wherever she was needed—even picking up the bass in junior high because the band had a gap to fill. For a long time, she didn’t see herself as a “leader,” just a piece of a bigger sound.

That “fly on the wall” energy followed her into a master’s degree in photojournalism. For about a decade, she was the one behind the lens at campfire jams and open mics, documenting the scene until musicians started asking her to put the camera down and sit in. Little by little, the pull of the stage grew stronger than the view through the shutter.

Patti spent a decade with the Trash Can Bandits, doing everything from playing to booking shows and hauling merch. When the band split during the COVID shutdown, her life shifted, and the “Patti Steel” solo project was born out of pure necessity to pay the rent. She began teaching music and taking any gig she could find—a period of survival she captured in her song “2020 Quarantine” with Dominic Roy Music. Building it one performance at a time, she eventually put a full band together for a show at Kingfish, a Fayetteville staple for local music. The energy that night was undeniable, and what started as a way to get by quickly became the real deal.

There have been a few iterations of the Patti Steel Band. She writes and performs a lot of original songs. One is called “Catchin’ My Back Hand,” which speaks to the struggle of being in an abusive relationship—feeling trapped, believing you can’t get away, and then realizing you actually can. Another original, “No Better,” calls out people who act like they’re above others when, in truth, they’re not better at all. Some of the cover songs she performs with her band include music by The Staple Singers, Alabama Shakes, and Led Zeppelin—artists whose power and soul have deeply influenced her sound. She’s been writing new material and has a new album.

Patti’s connection to The Church Studio in Tulsa started with a bit of a leap of faith. After meeting musician Tom Pevear and inviting her to play with him at the Colony Club in Tulsa, he invited her to sit in with him at Tunes @ Noon. Despite the nerves of playing with someone she’d only played with once, the session clicked. That first Tunes @ Noon performance created a relationship with Nancy Ruth and the Church Studio team. Since then, Patti has become a regular face at the studio, returning for several sessions. She told me, “I love, love, love the church studio.” Now, she’s taking that momentum to the stage, preparing to bring her full band to Carney Fest 2026.

Patti didn’t grow up listening to Leon Russell, but after spending time in Tulsa, she became more aware of his impact on the music industry. “Not just as a performer, but as a songwriter, producer, and visionary. His legacy is woven into the spirit of the city.” To honor that, she’s putting together a tribute to Leon for her set at Carney Fest and bringing a local Tulsa artist up to join her. “Tulsa truly has my heart—as much as anywhere I’ve ever lived. No matter where life takes me, I’ll always look for a way to come back and make my home there again.”

When she isn’t performing, Patti’s still a documentary photographer and educator, staying busy as a collaborator and sharing what she knows about storytelling and creative growth. Patti brings joy, power, and authenticity to every note she plays and sings.

Check out Patti Steel’s NPR Tiny Desk Contest 2026.
See her calendar and scheduled events at Patti Steel; music available on all streaming platforms.